After months of lobbying and convincing local residents, Maryland Live! developers were finally able to open the casino and dining venue at Arundel Mills in Anne Arundel County. The casino is the only attraction of its kind in the Baltimore area and serves the needs of gamblers who were accustomed to traveling to neighboring Delaware or New Jersey for their gambling experience.

Maryland Live! is located outside of Baltimore, approximately 25 minutes away from the Inner Harbor. The casino and entertainment venue offers slot machines and plenty of parking. Inside the entertainment facility are a buffet and several restaurants including the Cheesecake Factory, Bobby's Burger Palace, Phillip's Express, Noodles, and a steakhouse scheduled to be opening soon.

If those eateries don't strike your fancy, or you need something a little less expensive because Lady Luck wasn't on your side that day, there are plenty of fast food restaurants just outside the casino along Arundel Mills Blvd or inside the outlet mall itself.

The Live! structure — Photo courtesy of T. Browne Smith

Maryland Live! opens early and you can stay late. Hours are 8am until 2am on weekdays and 8am until 4am on the weekends. The casino may expand to include tables in the near future, depending on citizens and lawmakers.